Ottawa Senators and Jared Cowen still trying to find common ground for new deal

Jared Cowen in photos

The Ottawa Senators took on the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Tuesday April 16, 2013. Jared Cowen from the Senators fights Kevin Westgarth from the Hurricanes during second period action Tuesday night at Scotiabank Place. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Age

The Ottawa Senators took on the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Tuesday April 16, 2013. Jared Cowen from the Senators fights Kevin Westgarth from the Hurricanes during second period action Tuesday night at Scotiabank Place. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Age

Ottawa Senator Jared Cowen during team practice at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Wednesday April 17,2013. Errol McGihon/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

The Ottawa Senators took on the Montreal Canadians at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa Friday March 16, 2012. Ottawa Senators Filip Kuba and Jared Cowen hit Montreal Canadian Tomas Plekaned during second period action Friday night in Ottawa. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

The Ottawa Senators took on the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Tuesday April 16, 2013. Defenceman Jared Cowen was back on the blue line for the Senators Tuesday night. Cowen missed the whole shortened season due to an injury suffered with AHL Binghamton during the lockout. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency

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With less than a month to the opening of training camp, the Senators and restricted free agent defenceman Jared Cowen are still trying to get a contract in place as the sides try to find common ground on length and dollars.

League sources confirmed to the Sun Thursday the Senators have tabled an eight-year, $28-million offer — an average of $3.5 million per season — to Cowen’s camp.

It hasn’t been rejected, but the deal’s not done, either.

It is similar to the seven-year, $28-million contract signed by New York Islanders blueliner Travis Hamonic, which pays him an average of $4 million per season.

The two sides have exchanged several proposals and are still trying to find the route to a contract.

If the Senators aren’t able to get a long-term deal done with Cowen — which is the club’s preference — then assistant GM Tim Murray and Cowen’s Alberta-based agent Rick Valette may have to settle for something with a shorter term.

The Senators don’t want to do a one-year deal with Cowen because he’ll have rights to arbitration after this season. Going that route would mean the club would lose control of its ability to pay the salary it wants to the 22-year-old.

Both sides agree Cowen will be a top-4 defenceman, but they have to decide where he’ll slot in the club’s salary structure, especially with blueliner Marc Methot set to become a UFA in July, 2015.

With Methot making $3 million the next two seasons, the Senators would like Cowen’s salary to fall below that number and above the $2-million one-way deal Patrick Wiercioch signed earlier this summer.

An answer for both sides could be a three-year deal to try to ensure Cowen develops into the kind of blueliner the club expects. Valette has been tight-lipped about negotiations but is confident Cowen is going to be in camp.

“We’ll get this worked out,” said Valette. “We’re talking about a lot of different scenarios.”

Ottawa Senators and Jared Cowen still trying to find common ground for new deal

With less than a month to the opening of training camp, the Senators and restricted free agent defenceman Jared Cowen are still trying to get a contract in place as the sides try to find common ground on length and dollars.

League sources confirmed to the Sun Thursday the Senators have tabled an eight-year, $28-million offer — an average of $3.5 million per season — to Cowen’s camp.

It hasn’t been rejected, but the deal’s not done, either.

It is similar to the seven-year, $28-million contract signed by New York Islanders blueliner Travis Hamonic, which pays him an average of $4 million per season.

The two sides have exchanged several proposals and are still trying to find the route to a contract.